Updated 3:00pm EST
The Tampa Bay Lightning have claimed former Maple Leaf and Blue Jacket center Riley Nash off of waivers from the Winnipeg Jets.
The Philadelphia Flyers have claimed former Blue Jacket defenseman Kevin Connauton off of the waiver wire from the Florida Panthers.
Scott Harrington has been placed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets for the purpose of player assignment to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). Remember when he was dealt for Kerby Rychel, anyone?
Follow me on Twitter @ZakMacBuzz
Updated: 2:30pm EST
The Columbus Blue Jackets depart from the US for tonight’s contest as they do battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Scotiabank Arena, for the first time of the 2021-2022 regular season.
These two teams are in a battle of opposites since the last time they met, during the 2020 NHL Playoffs. Since the bubble and upsetting the Northern foes, the Leafs readjusted the chairs and have become one of the strongest regular season teams this year, where the Blue Jackets are in the midst of a build, with younger talent and new coaching staff.
The Leafs have a new goaltending tandem in Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek; experience in TJ Brodie; and size and skill in Wayne Simmonds, Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase, Joeseph Anderson, and Michael Bunting. After being greased up by the veterans and losing in the first round, this team is looking to make its mark on the season.
Toronto is currently third overall in the league and Eastern Conference, and second in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs dropped their last two games on the road to Minnesota and Winnipeg, and are awaiting a ruling on the Jason Spezza incident during the game.
The Blue Jackets won their last game at home, but have lost the their last 4 on the road. The Jackets are sitting outside the wild card, and are dropping quick. The Jackets have also allowed 3 or more goals against per game in the last 6 games, including in their home win against San Jose.
As for the lineups tonight, Toronto is without defenseman Ramus Sandin after sustaining a horrific knee injury against Winnipeg; and are awaiting the Spezza trial. They also just assigned Joseph Anderson to the Marlins on a loan; placed Sandin and Mitch Marner on IR; and recalled Alex Biega, Kristians Rubins, and Alex Steeves from the Marlies.
Projected Lineups
Toronto Maple Leafs
Michael Bunting—Auston Matthews—Wayne Simmonds
Alexander Kerfoot—John Tavares—William Nylander
Nick Ritchie—David Kampf—Ondrej Kase
Alex Steeves—Pierre Engvall—Kyle Clifford
Morgan Reilly—TJ Brodie
Jake Muzzin—Timothy Liljegren
Kristian Rubins—Justin Holl
Jack Campbell
Justin Holl
Scratched- Alex Biega
Suspended— Jason Spezza
Injured— Mitchell Marner, Rasmus Sandin, Ian Scott, Petr Mrazek, Travis Dermott
Columbus Blue Jackets
Max Domi—Boone Jenner—Jakub Voracek
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Gregory Hoffman—Cole Sillinger—Justin Danforth
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Alexandre Texier
Zach Werenski—Jake Bean
Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke
Gabriel Carlsson—Adam Boqvist
Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov
Scratched— Gavin Bayreuther, Yegor Chinakov, Scott Harrington
Injured— Joonas Korpisalo, Patrik Laine, Nathan Gerbe, Dean Kukan
Players to Watch
Toronto — Auston Matthews — The Arizona native is at 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 8 career regular season games versus the Blue Jackets, but currently leads the Leafs in goals with 15 in 23 games played. He is currently at a 56% winning percentage in the faceoff dot with a 14.4% shooting percentage on 104 shots.
Columbus — Max Domi — the son of legendary Leafs forward Tie has 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 11 career regular season games against the Leafs. In an injury reduced season for the forward, Domi has 10 points in 13 games played. Domi’s strength, speed, and size will be key to help the Leafs win.
Keys to Victory
1. Super Stars— the Leafs’ offensive shooters remain healthy, and are collecting the big bucks for the team. Their scoring will need to be reduced or stopped for the Jackets to win. With Columbus allowing 3 or more goals in 6 straight games, this is a worry in the 6 tonight.
2. Merzlikins Makeup— If Elvis can get back to his form from earlier in the season, he can keep the team in the game, and push Campbell, who has been having a strong year himself.
3. Matchup— Getting the tougher and more skilled players to match line for line on the road will better their chances to push back against their offense, as that is their strength.
Final Prediction
Leafs — 5
Jackets — 2
What say you? More to come…
Follow me on Twitter @ZakMacBuzz
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»